Uncoupling mechanism



Aug 31, 1926.

1,598,353 w. KEL .$O

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 21, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. KELSO UNCOUPLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 21, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Au 31, 1926.

entree sures WILLIAM KELSO, or newsman, rnnnsi r venrn, esitation To run MGCONWAY & TORLEYCOMEANY, OF PITTSBURGH, P

' SYLVAINIA.

nnnsvtvnme, A 'oonroimrronor PENN- unoourmne MECHANISM.

Application filed October 21, 1924.. "serial No. 744,972.

The invention relates to uncoupling mechanism for Operating the lock of a car coupler, and while it is designed to be especially well suited for application to the Master Car Builders D type coupler wherein a bottom operated lock is employed, the invention may beembodied in uncoupling mechanism for cooperation with couplers of other types.

Generally state l, the principal object of tllQiIlVGHbiOlilStO provide an upcoupling 'nlechanism which may be easily assembled and disassembled, is of compact form and efficiently performs the service for which it is intended. V

The primary feature of the invention cons'is'ts in actuating the lock of the coupler by means of arot'atab'le member operatively connected to the coupler lock and slidably supportecbatits rear end by an actuating member ournaled in upwardly opening hooks formed upon 'a swingingly supported member, the said actuating member being provided with openings adapted to receive rotatable uncoupling levers which have their inner ends formed with a plurality of bends enabling said levers to extend through the openings of the actuating members and then project inwardly beneath the correspondingly adjacent'hooks of the swinging member, whereby the said actuating member and the uncoupling levers are prevented from be coming accidentally disassociated from each other or from the swinging member with which they are combined.

Another feature of the invention-consists in moving the coupler lock to unlocked position by means of a vertically rotatable member adapted to be actuated by a 'device involving a swinging member provided with upwardly opening hooks in which is journaled a transversely extending bar having a slot through which the rear end of said vertically rotatable member extends, the bar being provided'with a plurality of spaced openings or eyes between which the said hooks intervene, and a plurality of rotatable uncoupling levers being 'detachably -connectedtQsaidbar-by having their inner ends bent so as to permit them to pass through the corresponding eyes of the bar and extend under neighboring portions of the swinging member.

There "are other f atures of the invention residing in particular relations of parts and advantageous details of construction all as will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings chosen for the purpose of illustrating the invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims Figure 1 is aplan view of an uncoupling :':'ieclianism embodying the invention shown as associated'with a car coupler of the D type, said coupler being illustrated in dotted lines andparts of the uncoupling levers being brokenaway. v I

Figure 2 is a view of the uncoupling mechanism partly in elevation and partly in vertical sectiomportions of the coupler and carrier iron with which it is associated being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of the uncoupling mechanism, showing in dotted lines its relation to the well known standard D type coupler-and coupler carrier device.

Figure' l is a detail View, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, of the barlike actuating member forming one of the elements of the mechanism.

The car coupler 1 illustrated in the drawings is of the well known D type wherein the lower end of its lock 2 is movably connecte'd to a link 3 which extends downwardly through the coupler head and is pivotally connected to 'a'swinging lift lever 4 that is itself pivotally attached to the under side of the"coupler head. These parts may be of the standard forms commonly employed in couplers of this type.

As is well known, when the lift lever 24 is caused to perform an'upward swinging movement the link 3 is elevated and results in moving the coupler lock 2 to an unlocked i position. The unlocking movement of the lever at is effected by means of a vertically rotatable member 5 which is preferably pivotally and detachably interlocked with ward end with a hook 6 adapted to'extend through the eye or opening 7 formed in the swinging lever 4.

The member 5 a bar of round iron. It slidablyfs'upportedfrearwardly ofthe coupler upon the transversely extending bar-like member- 8 .jour'naled in upwardly opening spaced hooks 9 formed ona member '10 adaptedfto swing thelift lever by being provided at its forl isprrer'ab1yarmea from allowing either uncoupling in the direction of length of the car. The portion of the bar 8 which is located between the supporting hooks 9 is provided with an opening or slot 11 through which the rear end of the member extends, such construction enabling the member 8 when rotated to actuate the member 5 so as to cause it to rotate vertically and effect an unlocking operation of the coupler lock. At its opposite ends the actuating member 8 is provided with eyes 12 furnishing openings respectively adapted to receive the inner ends of rotatable uncoupling levers 13 which extend outwardly toward the sides of thecar. These levers may be of the usual 7 wcllknown form or have their outer ends fashioned in any desired manner. To enable either of the uncoupling levers 13 to operate the bar member 8 without moving the other uncoupling lever, the openings through the eyes 12 of the member 8 are flared on the rear lower sides, as indicated at 1 1. This permits the central bar 8 to perform an unlocking rotation in its bearings lever to be manipulated independently of the other.

The swinging member is preferably supported upon a bracket 15 which may conveniently be riveted to the coupler carrier iron 16. The bracket is preferably fashioned with a pair of forwardly extending upwardly opening hooks 17 disposed between the hooks 9 at the outer ends of the swinging member 10 and forming journals for said swinging memben Each of the hooks 17 side with curved downwardly extending ribs or flanges 18 disposed above the central portions or journals of the bar 8 so as to limit the upward movement of said bar when the parts are in assembled relation.

Each of the rotatable uncoupling levers 13 is formed at its inner end with a plurality of bends resulting in providing a portion 19 for passing through an eye 12 of the central bar and an offset end portion 20 which, when theparts'are in assembled position, rojects inwardlybeneath an adjacent hook 9 of the swinging member 10. By thus constructing and associating the parts, the uncoupling levers are interlockingly retained in assembled relation to the actuating member 8 and the latter is detachably retained in operative position with respect to the swinging mem ber 10 on which it is journaled. Moreover the relation of the central bar 8 to the flanged hooks 17 of the bracket 15 ensures that the swinging memb r 10 may not be accidentally disassociated from its support-' ing bracket.

In assembling the mechanism the bracket 15 is secured to the carrier iron, the swinging member 10 is then positioned in the hook 17 of the bracket and the central bar member 8 is thereafter brought into assembled is preferably formed on its under relation with the hooks 9 of the swinging member. The rear end of the vertically rotatable bar 5 is then threaded through the slot 11 of the central bar member, after which the retaining pin 21 by which the lock lift lever 1- is pivotally connected to the under side of the coupler head is removed so as to permit said lever and the link 3 to be swung rearwardly sufficiently far to allow the hook 6 of the bar 5 to be passed through the eye 7 of the lift lever. After this is accomplished the lift lever is reconnected to the coupler head by means of its retaining pin 21 and the inner ends of the uncoupling levers are passed through the eyes 12 of the central bar member thus completing the assembly of the mechanism.

I claim 1; In an uncoupling mechanism, the com bination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said, means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, an actuating member for said rotatable member slidably suuporting tne rear end of the latter, said actuating'member having intermediate its ends an opening through which said rotatable member extends and having an opening adapted to receive an uncou pling lever for operating said actuating member, a swinging member having upwardly opening spaced hooks in which said actuating member is journaled, and an uncoupling lever supported at its inner end by said actuating member and having its inner end bent so as to extend downwardly through an opening in said actuating member and then project inwardly beneath an adjacent hook of the said swinging member.

55. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means or moving said lock to unlock position, aid means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, an actuating member for said rotatable member slidably supporting the rear end of the latter, said. actuating member having an opening through which said rotatable member extends and having an opening adapted to receive an uncoupling lever for operating said actuating member, a swinging member having upwardly opening spaced hooks forming bearings for said actuating member, and a rotatable uncoupling lever provided at its inner end with a plurality of bends whereby it is adapted to extend through an opening in said actuating mem her and project inwardly beneath an adjacent hook of said swinging member.

' 3. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, its lock and carrier non, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving ill) all

a vertically rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, a bracket supported by said carrier iron and having a plurality of upwardly opening hooks, a swinging member journaled in the hooks of said bracket and having a plurality of upwardly opening hooks, an actuating member for said vertically rotatable member, said actuating member being journaled in the books of said swinging member and slidably supporting the rear end of said vertically rotatable member and being provided at opposite ends with openings adapted to receive the inner ends of respectively adjacent uncoupling levers, and a plurality of uncoupling levers each of which is adapted to extend through an opening of said actuating member and to project beneath an adjacent hook of said swinging member,

4. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, a bracket, a swinging member detachably supported by said bracket and having a plurality of books between which a portion of said bracket intervenes, a bar journaled in the hooks of said swinging member and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, said bar being provided with a slot adapted to receive said rotatable member and having openings at its ends for receiving the inner ends of rotatable uncoupling levers, and a plurality of uncoupling levers either of which is adapted to operate said bar, each of said uncoupling levers being provided with a portion adapted to extend under an adjacent hook of said swinging member to provide means for maintaining said bar in assembled position.

5. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, an actuating member for said rotatable mem ber slidably supporting the rear end of the latter, a swinging member having upwardly opening hooks in which said actuating member is journaled, and a plurality of rotatable uncoupling levers either of which is adapted to operate said actuating member, each of said uncoupling levers being provided at its inner end with a crank arm adapted to engage said actuating member to elfect a rotation thereof, and each of said uncoupling levers also being provided inwardly of its crank arm with a portion adapted to cooperate with said swinging member to maintain said actuating member in assembled position.

6. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, an actuating member for said rotatable member, a swinging member having upwardly opening hooks disposed on opposite sides of said rotatable member, said actuating member being journaled in said hooks and being provided with a plurality of eyes for receiving the inner ends of rotatable uncoupling levers, said hooks being disposed between said eyes and said actuating member also being provided with an opening for receiving the rear end of said rotatable member, and a plurality of rotatable uncoupling levers either of which is adapted to operate said actuating member, each of said levers having a portion which extends through one of the eyes of said actuating member and having a portion extending under an adjacent hook of said swinging member.

7. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, an actuating member for said rotatable member, a swinging member supporting said actuating member and upon which the latter is journaled, said actuating member being provided with a plurality of flared eyes for receiving the inner ends of rotatable uncoupling levers, and rotatable uncoupling levers adapted to operate said actuating member, said uncoupling levers being provided with portions extending through said eyes.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM KELSO.

Cal 

